The Ins and Outs of IEEs

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Does your New Year Resolutions List look something like this?

  1. Help kids with disabilities to learn and succeed

  2. Find a new (better!) income stream

  3. Cut down on billing insurance companies

  4. Keep a houseplant alive
     

Join us on January 31, 2020 for The Ins and Outs of Independent Educational Evaluations 

Independent Educational Evaluations (commonly referred to as “IEEs”) are private assessments which any qualified assessor can conduct, and which are funded by school districts. IEEs serve an important purpose: to provide school districts and parents with an independent opinion regarding how children with disabilities learn, access their educational environment, and thrive in the school community and beyond. This seminar is for psychologists, behaviorists, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, and other related services providers who are seeking to revitalize their practice, or those who simply want to add another income stream without the hassle of dealing with private insurance companies.

This full-day, comprehensive training is created and presented by Alexis and Siobhan, two attorneys with a combined 20+ years of experience in the field of special education and education law. Drawing on our experience and expertise as both attorneys for parents and for school districts, as well as our hustle as small business owners, we will cover everything you need to start your independent evaluator practice.

The training includes:

  • A primer on special education law and the independent educational evaluation process;

  • Legal requirements for an independent educational evaluation (and how to meet them);

  • Legal requirements and considerations parents and school districts have when selecting an independent evaluator;

  • Legal requirements and consideration for selection of assessment instruments;

  • Tips for formatting and writing your independent evaluation report;

  • Steps for starting your independent evaluator practice, including setting rates, developing contracts, and billing;

  • Tips for marketing your independent evaluator practice, including a discussion of specialized areas of interest such as bilingual and culturally responsive assessment; and

  • What to expect after the assessment and report, including the individualized education program process, and providing expert witness testimony;

  • A comprehensive Independent Educational Evaluator Provider’s Handbook, full of resources, handy guides, and relevant law; 

  • Time to network with like minded professionals and to ask Alexis and Siobhan questions; and

  • Early-Bird registrants will receive 50% off of a review of your first (or next) independent assessment.

Early-Bird registrants receive a discounted rate of $150 per person for the full-day seminar. Tickets purchased after December 15, 2019 are $175 per person for the full-day seminar. Tickets include light breakfast refreshments and afternoon snack; tickets do not include parking or lunch. The venue’s location in beautiful Old Town Pasadena affords for plenty of convenient parking and a wide selection for lunch on your own or with your friends and colleagues. 

​About the Hosts: Alexis Casillas has over ten years’ experience as an attorney representing parents and students in special education matters and is passionate in her advocacy on behalf of students with disabilities. Alexis runs a busy law practice, just completed a two-year term as Chair of the Board of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates and is currently the Chair of COPAA’s Amicus Committee, and is a mom to two awesome kids. Siobhan Cullen has a decade of experience representing school districts in special education matters and training public agencies and associations on assessment and special education law. Siobhan was formerly a seventh grade teacher, and is the founder of a non-profit training and advocacy organization, as well as a mom to three hilarious cats. Alexis and Siobhan met while in their roles as opposing counsel, became friends, and eventually, decided to combine their superpowers to create comprehensive training for special education providers and mental health professionals.

Who This Seminar is Designed For: This seminar is appropriate for psychologists, therapists, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, behaviorists and BCBAs, audiologists, recreational therapists, and other related services providers, and existing independent evaluators, whether in private practice, or employed by a non-public agency or school, a non-profit organization, or a public agency or school. Though parents may attend, given the technical nature of the materials and the focus on best practices from an assessor's point of view we believe later conferences may be better tailored to suit parents’ needs.